DeVore's political experience includes serving as a co-chair of the Gray Davis recall campaign in 2003. He was a member of the Orange County Republican Party's Central Committee from 1992-2002; a co-chair of the Bush for President campaign in 1999-2000; a city commissioner for the City of Irvine from 1991-1996; and senior assistant to Congressman Chris Cox from 1988-1990 and a director of Public Liaison for the 1988 Cox campaign.

DeVore was named legislator of the year by seven organizations: the California Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), the California chapter of the American Legion, the State Commanders' Veterans Council (a membership organization of 20 veterans and military-related organizations), the Southern California Contractors Association, the Young Republican Federation of California and the Orange County Republican Party.

DeVore was the Chief Republican Whip in the California State Assembly; he resigned this position on February 14, 2009, in protest of a multi-billion per year tax increase agreed to by the assembly's Republican leadership.[2]

Biography

DeVore earned his B.A. in Strategic Studies from Claremont McKenna College in 1985 and graduated from the United States Army Command and General Staff College in 2003. His professional experience includes working as Vice-President of Research and Communications for SM&A and Special Assistant for Foreign Affairs with the U.S. Department of Defense. He served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army/Army National Guard from 1988 to 2007.

DeVore wrote a novel, China Attacks, which was published in 1999 in the United States and translated in Chinese in 2000. The novel is banned in China.

Sponsored legislation

For details and a full listing of sponsored bills, see the House site.

Issues

Political Courage test

DeVore provided answers to the California State Legislative Election 2008 Political Courage Test. The test informs voters how a candidate would vote on the issues if elected. When asked his legislative priorities he responded:

1. "Lifting California's ban on the construction of modern nuclear power plants as a way to address both greenhouse gas emissions and reduce our reliance on imported fossil fuels."

2. "Prevent job-killing tax increases."

3. "Slow the rate of growth in government - we have seen a 32 percent increase in spending in only four years."[3]

Elections

2010

DeVore faced Carly Fiorina in the Republican Party nomination fight about who will run against Democrat Barbara Boxer in 2010. DeVote is regarded as an underdog against Fiorina but who whose "impeccable conservative credentials" will play a role in the June 2010 primary.[1]

According to Dan Schnur, director of the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics at the University of Southern California, "In a more normal political landscape, DeVore would have an almost impossible task ahead of him. But given the grassroots anger that exists now, he's got a chance."[1]

Through mid-December 2009, DeVore's campaign had raised about $1 million from 17,000 contributors.[4] The Fiorina campaign is expected to raise more than $10 million.[1]

2008

In 2008, DeVore was re-elected to the California State Assembly District 70. DeVore (R) finished with 114,556 votes while his opponent Michael Glover (D) finished with 83,709 votes.

California State Assembly District 70

Candidates

Votes

Charles DeVore (R)

114,556

Michael Glover (D)

83,709

Campaign donors

2008

Below are DeVore's top five campaign contributors in the 2008 election:[5]

Contributor

2008 total

Picoco LLC

$3,200

Makar Management

$3,200

Cathy Turner

$3,200

Generation Next

$3,200

Cathy Turner

$3,100

Legislative scorecard

Capitol Weekly, California's major weekly periodical covering the state legislature, publishes an annual legislative scorecard to pin down the political or ideological leanings of every member of the legislature based on how they voted on an assortment of bills in the most recent legislative session. The 2009 scores were based on votes on 19 bills, but did not include how legislators voted on the Proposition 1A (2009). On the scorecard, "100" is a perfect liberal score and "0" is a perfect conservative score.[6][7]

On the 2009 Capitol Weekly legislative scorecard, DeVore ranked as a 12.[8]